Monday, June 18, 2012

Boris Johnson's "Life of London"

We
don’t have elected officials like Boris Johnson in the United States.

The
American-born Johnson is mayor of London, a former member of Parliament, a
former journalist and editor, and an author. And in “Johnson’s Life of London”
he has utilized all of those experiences and more to create to tell the history
of London through the stories of the key figures who helped make the city.

Johnson
presents a series of 17 vignettes that accomplish two things: tell London’s
story and make his case for London having likely influenced the modern world more
than any other city. For the English language alone, it’s hard to argue against
him.

Some
of Johnson’s historical Londoners are familiar – William the Conqueror, Chaucer,
Shakespeare, Winston Churchill, Samuel Johnson and Florence Nightingale. Others
were once better known but are somewhat forgotten (at least by Americans) –
Richard Whittington, John Wilkes. Lionel Rothschild, W.T. Stead. But all of
them have been important to the history of London, and by extension, to the
history of the world.

Fifteen
hundred years before the London blitz of World War II, Queen Boudica conducted
her own blitz of the city, leaving behind tens of thousands of dead and ash
that’s almost 18 inches thick. The Roman emperor Hadrian made London the
capital of Roman Britain. William the Conqueror built the Tower of London, the
symbol to the Anglo-Saxons that they were going to stay defeated. We know about
Chaucer and Shakespeare, but we learn the scientist Robert Hooke designed the
plan for London after the great fire of 1666. And John Wilkes not only gave
birth to the ideas of one man – one vote, he challenge of the tyrannical doings
of King George III was an inspiration to the colonists in America; Johnson
calls him “the father of liberty.” J.M.W. Turner created Impressionism decades
before Renoir, Cezanne and Van Gogh.

Each
mini-biography sets the individual in the context of his or her time, because
it is in the context that the reader sees Johnson make his case for London. And
each story presents its character with all the warts – for example, the chapter
on Churchill is one of the most realistic I’ve read on the man, and it does not
diminish his well-earned reputation in the least.

Johnson
sprinkles side stories and vignettes throughout the volume, proving looks into
the King James Bible, the flush toilet, the Bow Street Runners, the origin of
the men’s suit, the bicycle (perfected if not invented in London), sports, the
sewer system, and the Tube, among others.

“Johnson’s
Life of London” is a gem of a work – well-written, impressive for its understated
command of history, and comprehensive in its coverage of London’s history. The mayor
has served his city well here.

A Light Shining

Dancing Priest

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Professional writer exploring faith and culture, life and work; happily married to Janet, the love of my life; father of two grown sons. Award-winning speechwriter and communication consultant. I am also a contributing editor for The High Calling and for TweetSpeak Poetry. I am also the author of the novels "Dancing Priest" and "A Light Shining," and the non-fiction book "Poetry at Work."